Hamilton’s Overhauled Industrial Tonneau Watch Is the Brainchild of an Unexpected Designer

First released in the 1940s, Hamilton’s Boulton is one of the brand’s most timeless, quintessential designs. It’s also typically quite dressy and refined.

However, the latest expression of the brand’s beloved tonneau watch is a pretty extreme departure. This can be credited to its designer, who comes to the brand via an interesting crossover with the world of video games.

However, to say that the Hamilton American Classic Boulton Death Stranding 2 Limited Edition watch is a surprising departure might be underselling it.

Hamilton

AAA timepiece

As the watch’s name suggests, this is a crossover with the upcoming video game Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. However, it’s far from just a simple branding money grab — that wouldn’t be designer and auteur Hideo Kojima’s style.

Instead, this Boulton was entrusted to the game’s Art Director, Yoji Shinkawa, who gave it a complete overhaul to align with the overall direction and design of the game.

The result is a profoundly industrial, almost brutalist design that’s entirely unlike any other Boulton ever made.

Instead of a delicate mirrored case and fine leather strap, this one has an angular PVD-coated titanium case with a matching link band. But it’s not just a material and color swap, either.

The case has also been restructured with a cage-like dome and a septet of antireflective sapphire crystal windows. Under it, the dial has also been blacked out with gunmetal indices and hands, save for its orange 12 o’clock marker and second hand.

Hamilton

Deliveries done

While the watch design is quite bold, Hamilton and Shinkawa were wise enough to keep the connection to the game more subtle.

The only visible reference to the game is on the exhibition caseback. Above the watch’s caliber H-10 automatic movement, the game’s logo is printed in its signature font.

Speaking of its movement, the automatic engine is good for 80 hours of continuous operation. As mentioned, it — with its intricate contrasting snail and pearled patterns — can be appreciated through the caseback, even behind the game’s logo.

The watch is an exceptional example of what can be done when masterful designers collaborate, regardless of their medium of choice.

Hamilton

Pricing and availability

Only 2,000 examples of the Hamilton American Classic Boulton Death Stranding 2 Limited Edition watch were made, priced at $1,495 apiece.

That’s a surprisingly affordable price point for such a bold, high-quality timepiece. It also means the watch is likely to sell out almost immediately.

The watch will be released alongside the game on June 26, but you can sign up for email alerts to be among the first to be notified when it launches.

Hamilton

Hamilton American Classic Boulton Death Stranding 2 Limited Edition

• $1,495 at Hamilton

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